Rain gauge



J. B. MOORE Aug. 29, 1950 RAIN GAUGE Filed Sept. 15, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I11 veutor .JQJML-IS .B- MooRE By and Aug. 29, 1950 J. B. MOORE 2,520,557

RAIN GAUGE Filed Sept. 15, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor 5 57 J7 .JZ'MA? ,5 MOORE I 7 amp avg M1 Patented Aug. 29, 1950 James B. Moore, Hamilton, Mo. Application September 13, 11946, Serial Isa-696,666

- Claims.

1 l This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in rain gauges, more specifically, to improvements in the rain gauge U. S. Patent No. 2,384,954, issued to me on September 18, 1945.

While experimenting with the rain gauge constructed in accordance with this patent, it has been found that the same lends itself to certain structural and functional improvements, whereby the construction thereof may be considerably simplified and its efliciency substantially inz creased.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide a device of the character herein described, in which such improvements are incorporated. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a rain gauge which will readily adjust itself to face, so to speak, the direction of the wind driven ram.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rain gauge wherein the rain is received in transparent, graduated collecting units, in order that the quantity of the fallen rain may be easily and conveniently determined.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a rain gauge which is simple in construction and operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a rain gauge which will not easily become damaged and which will readily lend itself to economical manufacture.

' With the above more important objects in view, and such other objects as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accom panying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 2-2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 3-3 in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a modified embodiment of the invention. 1

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 5--5 in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a further modified embodiment of the invention, and

. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 'I''! in Figure 6. Like characters ofreference are used to designate like parts in-the specification and throughout the'several' views. Referring now to the accompanying :drawings in detail, more particularly, to Figures 1; 2 and '3, the invention consists of a rain gauge designated generally by the reference character l0, thesame embodying in its'constructionarotatable support designated-generally by the-character H, and comprisinga disc-like base plate l2, secured by means of the'finails- |3,,or the, like, to suitable supporting istructure-,"such as an upright pole M.

An upright tube I 5 is welded or otherwise suitably secured'to the base' plate l2 and a ball bearing I6 is rotatably'p'ositioned in the lower end :of -=the tube, as "is best shown in Figure 1. The lower end-*portion of ans-upright"supporting rod 11 is rotatably insertedinto. the tube 15,-the lower extremity of 'the'rod engaging the bearing 16,

whereby free-rotation-xof the rod in the tube is facilitated: I

'- The, upper end portion ofthe rodl1 is laterally angulated as-at l 8 "and terminates in a horizontal, rightangles portion l9 which-is screw threaded at the extremity thereof, as-at'20.

The rain: collecting unit "designated generally by-the character 2 1 consists of a substantially circular plate '22 which'is rotatably mounted on the horizontalend portion; IQ of the rod I! and is retained thereon by means of a suitable nut 23 positioned on the threaded-portion 20. The plate 22 is formed with aconcaveperipheric flange 24,

providing a shallow groove 25,- and an annular tube-like member 26,- 'formed from transparent material, is positioned-in-this groove, as-is best shown inFigure 2..

26,-as is best showninfFi e 2. 1 1

be. passed to-encirclethe flange 24 and-the body It will be notedthat the strap so is disposed in a diametrically lopposite relationship on the member 26 with respect to the cup 28 and that '.the end portions voithe strap are secured together being disposed transversely with respect to the plane of the plate 22, as will be clearly understood.

When the invention is placed in use. the collecting unit 2| as a whole, will function in the manner of a weather vane, that is, wind pressure against the surfaces of the plate 22 will cause the rod 1''! to rotate in the tube I5 until the plane of the plate 22 is parallel to the direction of the wind.

Furthermora'the wind pressure upon the fin 32 will .tilt the unit 2| on itspivot l9 -so that the open'mouth of the cup 28 faces the direction of the wind driven rainpThe cup will, of course,

receive the rain and deliver the same into the tubular member 26, as indicated by the lines 3'3. The amount of rain fall may then be easily-and conveniently measured with respect to predetermined graduations 34 inscribed on themember'26'. In the absence of wind, them- 32 willefiectively maintain the unit 2| in a vertical position, that is, with the mouth ofthe cup 28 directed' up- Wardly, substantially as shown.

lRefem'ing now ftp one :modtfied embodiment 0f the invention illustrated in the "accompanying Figures 1 andzfifithemaimgaugeqiesignatemgenerally by the reference character "consists of re. rotatable support 41, rsiniilar in all-irespects to the vafore emeritioned esuppoitt 1M 'Thesupportm :includes a'horizontally :disposed rod portion 12 .on "which a z-suhstantially acnicul'ar plate is vmotata'bly amounted. iA segmentwof this :plate :is removed *so-zasrto provide :a lohordal ed e M and ;-a ibalancinlgiin #5. aconfigurated s'substantially as shown, is secured as :at 416 Ito the plate 43, in a diametrically supposed rl'ation' :"to the edge E4.

' A'paiir of *tmnsparentmgraduatedtubes M are "the wind driven rain, :so that the rai'n may be collected in the graduated tubes and the *quantity thereof 'corr'espondingly:determined. lt'will be noted that the-relative disposition of the "tubes -41 upon the plate 43 and *the provision or the fin 45 will effectively maintain th'e devise in an -upright position in "the absence or wind.

"With reference 'n'ow to' the further modified embodiment of theinvention illustrated in'the accompanying-Figures 6 and W; therein 'auge '50 herein mdludes" a-rotatahle 5- l ar to the aforemention'ed supports "The support indludes a horizontal *r'od portion 52 and -a"'h'ollow, 'disc-like body 53 1s it'dtat'ably mounted 'on this poiftion as willf-be clearly apparent. The body 53is*formediromtransparent materialrand is fpl'o'vjded 'with a central lbDSS' 54,

whereby the mounting thereof "onthe portion L52 is facilitated. j f v I The body 53 "is mscribed 'W1th.'Sl1it2tU1B graduations 55 and "leg-provided in the lateral "surface thereof with a oolrecting oup "5%. A balancing fin 51, equipped with an attaching adapter 58 is secured to the body 53, in a diametrically opposed relation with respect to the cup 56, as is best shown in Figure 6.

When this embodiment of the invention is placed in use, the body 53 will function as a Weather vane, responding to the wind pressure upon its fiat end surfaces. As in the foregoing embodiments, the fin 57 will tilt the body 53 and the mouth of the collecting cup 56 toward the Wind driven rain, so that the rain will be collected in the body as indicated at 59-.

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will be clearly understood from the iforegoingtdislosure, andaocordingly, further descriptionthereo'f at this point is considered unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown :and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope or 'th'e invention as claimed.

What I claim as my'invention is:

1. Inza rain gaugenthe combination-ref a 'support rotatable in :a :horizontal plane, 2a :disclike .member rotatably .mounted one and mi rsaid arm, said. member having vertical Windresisting surfaces disposedapa'rallel:tosaid zarmua downwardlyextending balancingifin provided on isaidmember atiright angles to said surfaces, and collecting receptacle means carried by :Jsaid member. a

52. :Araingauge:comprisingasrotatablymounted upright rod having a horizontally angul'ated :arm at the upper end thereof, a disc-like member pivotally mounted on said arm, said member 'having' -vertical wind=resisting surfaces-disposed par- :allel to 'sa'id :arm, a downwardly exten'ding "balancing fin provided on said member at right :angles to said surfaces, and a pair of rain 'collec'tin'g receptacles secured to said member atdi- :ametrically opposite "sides of its pivotall mounting on said arm.

said receptacles comprise 'graduated tubes ha-ving upwardly directed open end-portions extend- '-ing beyond th'e upper edge of said memb er.

4. A rain gauge comprising in cenibinationya 'rotatably=mounted upright supporting ro'd ha-ving a horizontally 'angulated upper end portion, a collecting unit including a substantially circular "-pla'te mounted for rotation about 'a horizontal axis 'on said upper end portion ;of said rod and disposed in a plane substantially parallel to said upper end portion whereby said rod may "be rotated by wind pressure on said plate, an'annular tube-like member secured at the "periphery ofsaid plate and inscribed with aseries -o f--'grad= nations, '2. collecting cup-provided 'on com; municating with the'interior of'said member and a substantially flat balanc'ingfin secured 'to 'and depending from said 'colleotingunit, saidfinbeing disposed at right angles to the plane of rotation of saidplate and being responsiveto'wind pressure 'whereby'said'unit may be rotated :and said cup tilted "in the direction 'of :wind 'driven ralin. E

5. A 'rain gauge comprising in combination, .a rotatably mounted upright supporting .rod having a horizontally 'angu'lated upper end portion, a collecting unit comprising ahollow' disc-'likefbo'dy provided with a series of ,graduations, said. body being mounted for 'rotationjabouta horizontal axis on "said upper end portion of said rod and disposed in a plane substantially parallel to said 7' 2,620,657 5 upper end portion whereby said rod. may be ro- REFERENCES CITED tated by n pressure on Said P 6.011901." The following references are of record in the ing cup provided on and communicating with the me of this patent:

interior of said body, and a substantially flat balancing fin secured to and depending from said 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS collecting unit, said fin being disposed at right Number Name Date angles to the plane of rotation of said body and 916,060 Thomson Mar. 23, 1909 being responsive to wind pressure whereby said 1,118,259 Beard Nov. 24, 1914 unit may be rotated and said cup tilted in the 1,942,039 Tyler Jan. 2, 1934 direction of wind driven rain. 10 2,384,954 Moore Sept. 18, 1945 JAMES B. MOORE. 

